Board grants use variance for assisted-living plan at 236 North Briel Boulevard with owner-tied condition

The Middletown Board of Zoning Appeals voted to grant a use variance that allows a proposed assisted-living (personal care) facility at 236 North Briel Boulevard, with a condition tied to the applicant/owner.

Asia Mustafa, the applicant, told the board she intends to operate a small assisted-living residence with five suites for Medicaid-eligible seniors, staffed 24/7 by certified caregivers. Mustafa said the operation would provide personal-care services (bathing, feeding, assistance with activities of daily living) and would not offer skilled nursing procedures such as insulin injections or IV infusions. "We would be housing staff members, which would be classified as STNAs or certified caregivers, who are going to be full time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," Mustafa said.

Staff summarized the code background: the O-1 office district generally permits medical and dental offices but lists skilled-nursing and personal-care facilities as a prohibited use in that district. Planning staff said the applicant requested the use variance because the property’s size, layout and proximity to services make it difficult to repurpose…